EWC Spotlight on Education:  EWC Welcomes 167 New Students from 33 Countries

With the start of the Fall semester, comes a new cohort of East-West Center student fellows. This year the Center welcomed 167 new fellows and affiliates from 33 countries in traditional Hawaiian style with a lei greeting, a hula dance, and a Hawaiian chant during the new student orientation.

The traditional welcoming ceremony was part of a two-week orientation that exposes new students to the unique cross-cultural environment of the EWC and instills an appreciation for the host Hawaiian culture through many hands-on learning activities and field trips. The program concluded with the annual welcome picnic hosted by the EWC Alumni - Hawai'i Chapter at Kapi’olani Park, which connected the students with the local community and previous generations of Center participants.

Bringing together 382 new and returning students representing nearly 50 countries, the East-West Center continues to expand its dynamic and diverse learning community.  Though the majority of students come from countries throughout Asia, the Pacific, and the United States, this year the reach of the Center extends to students from Ireland to Palestine, Armenia to Brazil, and Peru to Tunisia, among others. The new arrivals include participants in leadership development activities through the EWC’s Asia Pacific Leadership Program (APLP) as well as degree students ranging from undergraduate to the doctoral level. ...more...